(quote from RealReality.org/Real_Faith_and_Reason_Vol_2_-_Scientia.pdf)

Relationship is the Solution

As we started this journey, I told you about how Dr. Jason Lisle shocked me by saying the following:

“Only the fear of the Lord leads to knowledge.”

We looked at the following verse and wondered about the meaning of the word “all.”

“[Christ,] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.” ~ Colossians 2:3 Berean Literal Bible

On our journey, we’ve found the word “all” includes natural science and everything else. We realized God did mean it when He said the human mind is deceitful and desperately wicked.

We don’t know of a source other than divine revelation for precise and correct knowledge of truth. No one has ever observed accurate information self-generating. So, for those who reject divine revelation, the ungodly-thinking fallacy blocks all rational thought. In other words, basing all thought on made-up stuff is the unavoidable result of ungodly thinking, and no ungodly thinker can escape it. And that proves no one can know anything using ungodly thinking.

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(quote from RealReality.org/Real_Faith_and_Reason_Vol_2_-_Scientia.pdf)

Since we know Jesus, revelation is direct and sovereign. His revelation bypasses the weakness of the human mind as Almighty God imparts revelation. And He’s well able to give it. The fallen human mind tries to deceive us. However, God knows how to give good gifts to His children, and Christ also gives the discernment as one such good gift.

“So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” ~ Luke 11:13 Berean Study Bible

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(quote from RealReality.org/Real_Faith_and_Reason_Vol_2_-_Scientia.pdf)

When we seek God, we need to be clear that we’re seeking the triune Almighty God, the Creator of all Who breathes out the words of Scripture. He’s the knowable, personal God Who cannot lie. While some created beings claim to be gods, He created those beings. He’s not any of the false gods invented by human minds either. Rather, He’s the uncreated Creator of the universe and everything in the spiritual and material realms. And yet, He’s our friend, and we know Him.

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(quote from RealReality.org/Real_Faith_and_Reason_Vol_2_-_Scientia.pdf)

We’re learning to hear God’s voice and to respond in willing submission to His correction and instruction. We may step of slip off the way. If we are humble and teachable, the Holy Spirit can bring us back to the path. If we stop moving, He can get us moving forward again. If we think we are something or we have the ultimate truth for the hour, we may not open ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s correction.

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Other members minister in our meetings. They may speak by the Holy Spirit, and, though they have no idea God is speaking to us directly through their anointed word, yet the work is done. It’s an amazing process that creates unity because of the flow of the Anointing.

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In the multitude of ministries, there’s more safety than if we try to walk independently or think our understanding is superior to anyone else’s. We may get something wrong. However, if we belong to a local assembly that follows the order of Scripture, those set into authority according to the pattern of Scripture can help us. A body of multiple elders, when each one is in submission to all the others, is safer than a chief elder or pastor who runs the show. If we walk in submission, those who God has set can correct us if we’re wrong. Someone may wonder how we determine which local assembly God wants us to be in. God must reveal that to us. We go where He sends us.

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We need to be wary of any teaching that needs to explain away certain passages of Scripture as not important, not for today, or just poetic. The Holy Spirit will give discernment if we yield to Him and desire the truth. God will give us discernment regardless of our personal feelings. When we’re in His will, He gives a sense of His presence, His love, peace, joy, and all the fruit of the Spirit. Even then, He warns us He has more to show us and tells us not to have closure before the time. If we know anything, we don’t know it as we ought to know it. Consider your most cherished doctrine. You don’t understand it as you ought to know it.

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And any one of us may run off this way or that way and may even try to teach something God never told us to teach. The human mind is deceitful and desperately wicked. However, if we walk in humility before the Anointed One, and listen to His voice as the Holy Spirit teaches us, He will continue to correct each of us. Sometimes, He’ll speak through a brother or a sister. If a revelation is from God, He’ll confirm the revelation with two or three witnesses. He’ll use intuition, conscience, and Scripture. God often speaks through the created world. He then ratifies that revelation through brothers and sisters and Scripture.

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(quote from RealReality.org/Real_Faith_and_Reason_Vol_2_-_Scientia.pdf)

The body of Christ builds the body of Christ. Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 14 explain that in some detail. These Scriptures go beyond the church service. You’ll notice, in Ephesians 4:11, there is the office of apostle and four ministries.

This office of apostle was lost to the church somewhere. This verse says it will be there until we come to unity and total completeness. That particular office brings authority to divine revelation and ends debate since the apostles walk in submission to each other and Christ. They must be set by Christ. They can’t call themselves. We can see the pattern of Scripture is not a pattern of independence or one person receiving an independent revelation and then trying to convince others of it. It’s not a pattern of a chief elder or chief apostle. When the office of apostle is fully restored, the apostles will receive and establish the doctrine. Many want to be apostles. Many are clamoring for the position. Many put the label on themselves.

We don’t have a universally accepted body of apostles who are called by God and receiving the revelation to equip the saints. Scripture indicates God will restore this office in the church. Meantime, we can encourage, build up, and comfort one another. We can learn how to hear God’s voice and yield to His righteousness in willing submission. During this time, we’re subject to misinterpretations of Scripture. We all are.

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